Camellia plant named &#39;HA012&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Camellia  plant named ‘HA012’, characterized by its sturdy upright plant habit; rapid growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; leathery dark green-colored leaves; flowering during the summer, autumn and winter; relatively large light red-colored single-type flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Camellia changii X Camellia japonica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HA012’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS:

Title: Camellia Plant Named ‘HA011’

Applicants: Liu Xinkai, Huang Wanjian & Xu Hui

Filed: Concurrently with this application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Camelliaplant, botanically known as Camellia changii X Camellia japonica, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘HA012’.

The new Camellia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Zhaoqing, China. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new fast-growing Camellia plants thatflower year-round and tolerate full sunlight.

The new Camellia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventors in October, 2006 in Zhaoqing, China of an unnamed seedlingselection of Camellia changii, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with Camellia japonica ‘Kramer's Supreme’, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Camellia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventors as a single plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Zhaoqing,China in September, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Camellia plant by grafting cuttings ontoan unnamed selection of Camellia gaozhouensis, not patented, in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Zhaoqing, China has shown that theunique features of this new Camellia plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Camellia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HA012’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HA012’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCamellia:

-   -   1. Sturdy upright plant habit.    -   2. Rapid growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Leathery dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Flowering during the summer, autumn and winter.    -   6. Relatively large light red-colored single-type flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance, tolerant to full sunlight        conditions.

Plants of the new Camellia differ from plants of the female parentselection primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Camellia are oblong in shape        whereas leaves of plants of the female parent selection are        lanceolate in shape.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Camellia have serrate margins        whereas leaves of plants of the female parent selection have        entire margins.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Camellia are slightly fragrant        whereas flowers of the female parent selection are not fragrant.

Plants of the new Camellia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Kramer's Supreme’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Margins of leaves of plants of the new Camellia are not as        serrate as margins of leaves of plants of ‘Kramer's Supreme’.    -   2. Plants of the new Camellia and ‘Kramer's Supreme’ differ in        flower color as plants of ‘Kramer's Supreme’ have darker        red-colored flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Camellia flower multiple times during the        year whereas plants of plants of ‘Kramer's Supreme’ flower once        a year.

Plants of the new Camellia can be compared to plants of Camellia changiiX Camellia japonica ‘HA011’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patentapplication filed concurrently. Plants of the new Camellia and ‘HA011’differ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘HA011’ have red and lightpink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Camellia can also be compared to the plants ofCamellia ‘Hong Lu Zhen’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsplants of the new Camellia differ from plants of the ‘Hong Lu Zhen’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Camellia are faintly fragrant        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Hong Lu Zhen’ are not fragrant.    -   2. Plants of the new Camellia flower multiple times during the        year whereas plants of plants of ‘Hong Lu Zhen’ only flower one        time each year.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Camellia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Camellia plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HA012’ grown in acontainer. The photograph on the second sheet are close-up view oftypical vegetive stems, developing flower buds and developing flowers of‘HA012’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Zhaoqing, China in an outdoornursery during the late autumn and under cultural practices typical ofcommercial Camellia production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures averaged 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C.Plants were five years old when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Camellia changii X Camellia japonica    ‘HA012’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of            Camellia changii, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Camellia japonica ‘Kramer's            Supreme’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By grafting cuttings onto a rootstock, an unnamed            selection of Camellia gaozhouensis, not patented.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two            months days at temperatures about 28° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two            months days at temperatures about 8° C.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub;            sturdy upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; rapid            growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about two to three            primary lateral branches each with about three to four            secondary branches; dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 172 cm.        -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 76 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length, secondary branches:            About 22 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Internode length: About            1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 35° from            vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte; woody            with development. Color, young stems: Close to 165B. Color,            older stems: Close to 199C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, single. Length:            About 7.8 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex:            Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Serrate. Venation pattern:            Pinnate, arcuate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; leathery; moderately glossy. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; matte. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 144A; color            does not change with the seasons. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to N144A;            color does not change with the seasons.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 143B. Color,            lower surface: Close to 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and appearance.—Single-type rotate            flowers, flowers terminal and axillary; freely flowering            habit with usually about 22 flowers and flower buds            developing per plant; flowers face mostly upright to            outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Camellia flower            during the summer, autumn and winter in Zhaoqing, China.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Plants maintain good flower            substance for about eight to ten days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.        -   Flower diameter.—Relatively large, about 8.7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 4.7 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.            Color: Close to 144A.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About 33 imbricate petals            arranged in numerous whorls. Length: About 5.1 cm. Width:            About 3.3 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Obcordate. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 50B. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 52A. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 52A; venation, close to 53B;            color does not change with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About nine to eleven            imbricate sepals arranged in a shallow cup-shaped calyx.            Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Rounded.            Apex: Obtuse. Base: Rotund. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; moderately glossy. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 146A. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 144A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 160C. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 160A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect:            About 30° to 40° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:            About 101. Filament length: About 3.2 cm. Filament color:            Close to 37C. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 2 mm            by 0.9 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 9A. Gynoecium: Quantity of pistils            per flower: Four-parted. Pistil length: About 2.1 cm. Style            length: About 1.9 cm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma            color: Close to 138C. Ovary color: Close to 138C.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed production have not been            observed on plants of the new Camellia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Camellia have been observed    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, full    sunlight and temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 40° C.-   Disease & pest resistant: Plants of the new Camellia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Camellia    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Camellia plant named‘HA012’ as illustrated and described.